The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Nighttime view of Cincinnati, Ohio skyline

Affordable Housing Construction Costs Outpacing Tax Credits

Builders in Ohio warn that, without intervention from Congress, tax credits meant to support affordable housing construction won’t keep up with rising costs and demand.

October 26 - WVXU

A map of New Jersey focuses on Haledon and blurs our surrounding cities such as Paterson.

Zoning Changes Intended to Spur Redevelopment in Haledon, New Jersey

The borough of Haledon is hoping that less restrictive zoning will spur a new wave of development and economic activity along one of the city's commercial corridors.

October 26 - North Jersey

People walking on sidewalk adjacent to bike lane with trees and buildings in background in Hong Kong park

Tiny Parks Make Big Impact in Hong Kong

New pocket parks provide valuable opportunities for residents to play and gather in the territory's dense neighborhoods.

October 26 - CNN

White Waymo autonomous minivan

Waymo Wants to Bring ‘Robot Taxis’ To L.A.

After launching pilot programs in San Francisco and Phoenix, the company says it is ready to begin deploying its autonomous vehicles on Los Angeles streets.

October 25 - Los Angeles Times

Red one-story Tucson home with gravel front yard

Tucson Could Ban Ornamental Grass

The city could ban the planting of “nonfunctional” grass in new developments, but would stop short of regulating lawns and golf courses.

October 25 - Arizona Daily Star


Cambridge Bike Lane

Parking Requirements Eliminated in Cambridge, Massachusetts

A major zoning amendment was approved by the Cambridge City Council on Monday, October 24, 2022.

October 25 - The Crimson

Santa Monica Bay

How the 'Builder's Remedy' Is Disrupting Planning and Development in California

The state of California has long looked the other way while cities blocked growth. With the state now enforcing growth plans, more and more cities are faced with losing local control of zoning. Introducing the “Builder's Remedy."

October 25 - Los Angeles Times


A sign announcing the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Facility in Jackson, Mississippi

Mississippi Investigated for Civil Rights Violations in Jackson Water Crisis

The NAACP has accused a pair of Mississippi departments of discrimination against Black Mississippians, leading to the loss of drinking water in the state's capital city at the end of the summer.

October 25 - Mississippi Free Press

Two Chicago elevated trains with city buildings in background

Scorecard Will Track Chicago Transit Recovery

A new scorecard from the Chicago Transit Authority will update the public on the agency’s progress on key issues like service delivery, frequency, and infrastructure improvements.

October 25 - Streetsblog Chicago

Boston Aerial

Boston ‘Mansion Tax’ Could Raise Millions for Affordable Housing

A tax on luxury property sales is stalled in the state legislature, causing the city to miss out on millions in potential tax revenue.

October 25 - Smart Cities Dive

Street with Regal cinema building in downtown Rockville, Maryland

Montgomery County Divided Over Long-Range Plan

In the wake of mass resignations at the county’s planning board, the county council will vote to update their growth plan to reflect the region’s changing economy and demographics.

October 25 - The Washington Post

View of hiking trail descending into desert mountains with steps carved into stone and guardrails at Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, Los Angeles County

Designing a New Nature Center at a Geological Wonder

Los Angeles County has developed a conceptual design for a new nature center at the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area based on community input. The old nature center was destroyed by a wildfire in 2020.

October 24 - Antelope Valley Press

Blue "Public Restrooms" sign with arrow against a blue sky

Uproar Over San Francisco’s $1.7 Million Toilet

Critics question why a single-toilet public bathroom could cost the city close to $2 million and take two years to build.

October 24 - Los Angeles Times

Hiking trail through green, forested area

Identifying and Addressing Rural Park and Recreation Needs

Rural communities are not homogeneous. Each has its own unique demographics, location, topography, history, park and recreation needs, and community preferences.

October 24 - Parks & Rec Business

View of Dealey Plaza with pedestrians at crosswalk and brick book depository building in background

A New Vision for Dallas’ Dealey Plaza

After decades of neglect, a team of designers reimagines the infamous plaza as a safe, vibrant, multimodal public space.

October 24 - The Dallas Morning News

Bottled Water

Ramping Up Recycled Wastewater

States like Colorado and water suppliers in parts of Southern California are expanding the use of recycled wastewater to protect dwindling drinking water supplies.

October 24 - Associated Press via 9 News

New York City skyline with construction cranes in foreground

BLOG POST

The Right to a Healthy Environment: Not as Healthy as One Might Think

Some state constitutions provide that citizens have the right to a healthy environment. But these seemingly innocuous provisions may lead to counterproductive results.

October 24 - Michael Lewyn

Close-up of back of three cars in a line with smoke coming from tailpipes

Republican States Challenge Highway Emissions Plan

A federal proposal that would require states to monitor and set targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions, praised by Democrats, is being called “unworkable” by many Republican states.

October 24 - Route Fifty

Italian restaurant outdoor dining patio with string lights in New York City

Who Should Manage New York’s Outdoor Dining Program?

A proposal to shift responsibility away from the Department of Transportation has met staunch resistance from industry groups and advocates of the program.

October 24 - StreetsBlog NYC

The sculpture of the "Double Check Businessman" in Liberty Park, New York City

Checking the 'Back-to-Work Barometer'

The back-to-work data everyone is talking about? It comes from a security company that offers swipe badges for entrance into office buildings all over the country. Some experts say their data is too incomplete to be authoritative, however.

October 23 - Bloomberg

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